Opening Discussion

• What’s your favorite pet that you have owned? If you’ve never owned a pet, what’s the weirdest pet someone you know has owned?

Shortened Version

Read and Discuss

Matthew 6:25-30

25 “Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? 27 Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. 30 If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith?

• Why does God care about all of creation?
• What did Jesus believe about nature and humans?
• What are some ways God provides for you every day?

Genesis 1:26-28

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”

27 So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female. 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.”

• What was God’s original design for humans in the order of created things?
  • Why does this matter
• What does it look like for humans to rule over creation?
• How does God’s view of humanity shape how you view humanity?

Discipleship Questions

• How do you show love to others around you?
• When you struggle to love someone, what is something you can do to remind yourself of how Jesus viewed and loved people?
• Who can you talk to this week to share about the good news of Jesus?

Extended Edition

Read and Discuss

Matthew 6:25-30

25 “Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? 27 Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. 30 If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith?

• Why does God care about all of creation?
• What did Jesus believe about nature and humans?
• What are some ways God provides for you every day?
• Why does Jesus say that humans are worth more than birds?
• What does the current culture say about the value of human life?
• What can followers of Jesus do to raise the value of human life in our culture?
• Does your view of people line up with Jesus’ view of people?

Genesis 1:26-28

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”

27 So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female. 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.”

• What was God’s original design for humans in the order of created things?
  • Why does this matter
• What does it look like for humans to rule over creation?
• How does God’s view of humanity shape how you view humanity?
• Why might those who don’t follow Jesus have a problem with this passage?
• How can you show others that they bear the image of God?
• What can you do everyday to remember that you are made in the image of God?

Discipleship Questions

• How do you show love to others around you?
• When you struggle to love someone, what is something you can do to remind yourself of how Jesus viewed and loved people?
• Who can you talk to this week to share about the good news of Jesus?

Memorize it!

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.

Prayer TACOS

Thanksgiving- Thank the Lord for valuing us

Adoration- Worship the Lord for His love for us

Confess to the times you’ve not treated people the way you should

Others- Pray for an opportunity to talk with someone who doesn’t understand their worth because they don’t view Jesus properly

Self- Ask the Lord to show you any areas where you don’t value people the way He does. Ask Him for the right perspective on humanity.